Draft Day Winners and Losers

Mon Apr 29 11:53am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

White should be lead back


The draft is always so exciting, seeing where all the players get picked. But after the draft, the big issue is figuring out what it all means for their fantasy value. We thought it would be a good idea to look at some of the biggest fantasy winners and losers from draft day. These are some of the players that were picked but also some of the guys that were already on rosters, seeing their fantasy value get impacted from the draft. Adjust your rankings accordingly!

WINNERS

Bryce Young, QB, Panthers. The Panthers did a great job of getting Young some much needed offensive help. The team took a receiver, running back and tight end in three of the first four rounds of the draft. Carolina already added Diontae Johnson this offseason, so the receiver corps should be much better after getting Xavier Legette in the first round. The receivers got very little separation last year, so it was hard to gauge Young. He needed help and got some this offseason. Carolina also took a possible franchise running back in Jonathon Brooks and hopefully a solid starting tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders. Things are looking up for Young and this offense.

Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs. Worthy could not have landed in a much better spot. He heads to one of the best offenses in football that has some openings at receiver, especially with the status of Rashee Rice a bit up in the air. Worthy has electric speed and the Chiefs should find plenty of ways to utilize that. He could be the new Tyreek Hill for this offense. Look for Worthy to make an impact right away.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys. Maybe one of the biggest surprises of the draft was the Cowboys not addressing their running back spot. Instead, the team signed Elliott after the draft. He is likely to be the starter in this top offense. He might not rack up the yards of past seasons, but has big touchdown potential in this offense. Elliott seems a pretty sure bet to get double-digit touchdowns. He could be a solid No. 2 for fantasy teams.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Panthers. Brooks is returning from a major knee injury and could be slowed a little early in the season, but once he is back healthy look for him to the three-down back for the Panthers. He lands in a great spot for playing time, having little top talent to compete with for playing time. Brooks could really get the volume in this offense. He is our top rookie fantasy back.

Zamir White, RB, Raiders. Many thought the Raiders were another team that could address their running back spot during the draft, but that didn’t happen. They used a sixth-round pick on Dylan Laube, but he is not expected to challenge White for that starter’s job. It sure seems the Raiders are comfortable with White as their lead back. He has a chance to get a lot of touches in year two. His stock is going up.

Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers. The Chargers need help at receiver and McConkey helps fill that need. It would not surprise if he quickly became Justin Herbert’s favorite target in the passing game. We really like his chances to rack up the weekly looks in this offense. Someone has to fill the Keenan Allen void and McConkey seems the best bet out of the options at receiver for the Chargers.

Keon Coleman, WR, Bills. Coleman is another rookie receiver that lands in a great spot for playing time. The departure of Stefon Diggs leaves a big opening for the Bills. Coleman could help fill that void. He has great size for the position and could be a top red-zone threat from day one for Buffalo. Coleman should get his chances from the get go, giving him a high ceiling for the coming year.

LOSERS

Raheem Mostert, RB, Dolphins. Mostert had a monster season last year and helped many fantasy teams to championships. He is going to have a very hard time repeating, especially after the Dolphins picked Jaylen Wright in the fourth round. Wright is a speed back similar to Mostert but a lot younger with less wear on his tires. Remember, Mostert is 32 years old. He might end up falling to third on the depth chart after the addition of Wright.

Rome Odunze, WR, Bears. Odunze is a super talented player that could be a star in the NFL. But for his year, you have to worry about him being up and down. He has two really good receivers ahead of him on the depth chart in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. This is going to limit the ceiling of Odunze. He will be a much better fantasy player in a few more seasons. For now, expect erratic production from the talented rookie.

Kyren Williams, RB, Rams. Williams remains the lead back for the Rams and is coming off a breakout season. But the Rams picked Blake Corum in the third round. He is going to be a factor in the offense. He might get put a huge dent in Williams’ workload but the big concern is the goal-line work. Corum is more of a between the tackles runner that does well on short-yardage work. He could end up stealing some touchdowns from Williams, hurting his fantasy value.

Michael Mayer, TE, Raiders. Mayer was a second-round pick for the Raiders last year and showed well at times his rookie season. The Raiders couldn’t pass on the talented Brock Browers in this year’s draft, though. This move absolutely kills the fantasy value of Mayer. He is going to play second fiddle to Browers, getting few weekly looks. Browers is the clear tight end to own in this offense.

Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers. Pearsall is a talented pass catcher that can get in and out of his breaks in a hurry. He is a really good fit for the slot and could fill that role for the 49ers his rookie season. The problem is he has some of the top talent in all of football to compete with for targets. He could really be up and down his rookie season. He will look better in a year or two when he has a more defined role and less to compete with at receiver. His rookie season could be a tough one to gauge for fantasy owners.

Malik Nabers, WR, Giants. Many considered Nabers the top receiver in this year’s draft. He is super talented with a high fantasy ceiling. The problem for Nabers is he got drafted by the Giants, a team that really struggled offensively last year. Plus, he has Daniel Jones throwing him passes. This is not a great landing spot for the talented Nabers. Jones needs to make some big strides this season if Nabers hopes to reach his potential. We aren’t sure that happens.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 3

Player Notes
Anthony Richardson Sep 20 5:00pm CT
Anthony Richardson

The Green Bay Packers defense and special teams unit travels to Tennessee to face the Titans in Week 3, and the Packers should be in line for a solid day from their D/ST unit in fantasy. Green Bay kept Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts in check as they gave up just 10 points, forced three interceptions and sacked him once. They go from Richardson to Will Levis, who we know is prone to making mistakes with the football. Levis has given up seven sacks and thrown three interceptions in two games, so the floor for the Packers is very high. When looking at defensive matchups, the Packers are in a good spot this week, where they end up in the periphery of the top 12 options in fantasy. They're a solid option this week if you don't have a tippy-top option at the position.

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Will Levis Sep 20 4:50pm CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis will take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season. Both of Levis' first two games to start the year have been overshadowed by two embarrassing and costly turnovers, but the 2nd-year QB has shown glimpses of why he was almost a top-10 pick once upon a time. The Titans have played two great defenses thus far, especially in the secondary, so it's not surprising that it's been a slow start for the Kentucky product. Week 3 doesn't look a whole lot easier with the Green Bay Packers coming to town, a team that boasts a lot of talent on defense. With Malik Willis likely starting at QB for Green Bay, the Titans will likely not need to score a ton of points to win on Sunday and the game plan should feature a heavy dose of running back Tony Pollard. Levis is only a low-end QB2 for this upcoming matchup against a stout defense.

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Tony Pollard Sep 20 4:50pm CT
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard faces the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. While the Titans' coaching staff keeps implying that Tyjae Spears will get more touches, Pollard continues to dominate the backfield work for Tennessee. The former Cowboy has received 25 more touches than Spears through two weeks and has also been more efficient with these opportunities. With Spears potentially sitting out or at the very least limited with an ankle injury this week, Pollard is an absolute smash play that should see a ton of volume against a run defense that has been gashed in both games to start the year. Fantasy managers should start Pollard with confidence this week.

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Calvin Ridley Sep 20 4:50pm CT
Calvin Ridley

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley is up against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 NFL action. The former Alabama star broke out in a big way last week, scoring 24.7 points - good for a WR6 finish against one of the league's best secondaries. It's clear that Ridley still has major juice, and might be heading into matchup-proof territory if he can produce against another tough defensive unit that features Jaire Alexander, another stud cornerback. This passing offense is very inconsistent right now with quarterback Will Levis playing sporadically, but Ridley is far and away the top option on this team and should see another smattering of targets this coming week. Ridley checks in as a mid-tier WR2.

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DeAndre Hopkins Sep 20 4:50pm CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins takes on the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. It's been a forgettable start to the year for the veteran wideout, who has logged only two catches for seventeen yards through the first couple of games. The snap counts and target volume indicate that Hopkins is still potentially hampered from a torn MCL suffered in July, but regardless, the production is a concern. With the Titans passing offense in flux and Calvin Ridley being the alpha WR at the moment, it's hard to justify starting Hopkins in any format. The former All-Pro is better left on benches until he looks fully back to normal.

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Jordan Love Sep 20 4:50pm CT
Jordan Love

The Tennessee Titans defense/special teams will attempt to hold serve against the Green Bay Packers offense in Week 3. Tennessee ranks #1 in the league in total yards allowed through two weeks, but is only the 20th ranked fantasy defense due to the lack of turnovers forced. The unit has only accounted for one turnover, which has limited their ability to score fantasy points. The fantasy viability of this defense almost solely hinges on the health of quarterback Jordan Love, who is currently dealing with a sprained MCL. If Love is unable to go, former Titans quarterback Malik Willis will be under center, which should have the Titans D/ST licking their chops. Willis has been a mistake-prone, ineffective player during his short career, which should give the Titans plenty of opportunities to create turnovers in this one. If Love does in fact play, this unit remains a decent stream, but will not be nearly as attractive an option.

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D.K. Metcalf Sep 20 4:10pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (hand) is off the injury report and is set to play on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. The 26-year-old wideout did not practice on Wednesday due to a hand injury but returned as a full participant on Thursday. He now enters the weekend without an injury designation. Fantasy managers should expect Metcalf to serve as the No.1 option for Geno Smith this weekend. After catching only three passes in the opening week, Metcalf caught ten passes for 129 yards and a score against the New England Patriots last week. Fantasy managers should view Metcalf as a high-end WR2 this weekend and should be locked into all starting lineups.

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Kenneth Walker III Sep 20 4:00pm CT
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game on Friday's injury report, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. The Michigan State product suffered an oblique injury in the opening week and could not suit up in last week's game. Fantasy managers should expect Zach Charbonnet to serve as the lead runner again for on Sunday. Charbonnet logged all but two snaps last weekend as he ran for 38 yards and a score on 14 carries and added 31 yards on five catches through the air. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable slotting Charbonnet in their lineup as a high-end RB2 as he will face the Miami Dolphins, who surrendered 28.5 PPR points to James Cook last week.

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Michael Pittman Jr. Sep 20 3:50pm CT
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game, according to Kevin Bowen of 1075 The Fan. The wideout did not show any signs of an injury earlier in the week but appeared on Friday's injury report with a back injury. Pittman did not practice. This is not a good sign for the 26-year-old, as his status for Sunday's game is now in danger. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any news regarding the USC product's status over the weekend. Pittman has had a slow start to the 2024 season, catching only seven passes across the first two weeks for a mere 52 yards. If Pittman does not suit up, fantasy managers should expect Josh Downs (who is making his 2024 debut) to see an increase in work on Sunday, as well as Alec Pierce and rookie Adonai Mitchell.

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Jake Ferguson Sep 20 3:50pm CT
Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (knee) is off Friday's injury report and set to return on Sunday when the Cowboys play host to the Baltimore Ravens. Ferguson was held out of last week's game due to an MCL sprain. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable putting Ferguson back in their lineup, as he recorded two limited practice sessions earlier this week and a full session on Friday. In the season-opener, the 25-year-old caught three of his five targets for a mere 15 yards. However, the young tight end emerged as the No.2 pass-catching option in the Dallas offense by tallying 761 yards and five scores on 71 receptions. Ferguson should be viewed as a low-end TE1 going forward, given the stable volume he should see weekly.

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Harrison Butker Sep 20 3:40pm CT
Harrison Butker

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. Butker split the uprights to seal the Chiefs victory in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Chiefs could rely more on their star kicker with the loss of a primary weapon on offense. Kansas City placed running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve earlier this week, and he should be out for an extended period with a broken leg. If the Chiefs offense becomes less effective in the red zone, Butker could be asked to kick even more field goals for the reigning Super Bowl champions. The Chiefs kicker has not missed a kick this season, nailing four field goals and five extra-point attempts. Butker will look to stay perfect this week on the road in Atlanta. Butker is a must-start kicker.

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Lamar Jackson Sep 20 3:40pm CT
Lamar Jackson

The Kansas City Chiefs defense/special teams will take on the Atlanta Falcons on the road in Week 3. The Chiefs defense has been a bit disappointing to start the season, given the high expectations most have for the unit. In the first two games this season, Kansas City has allowed 20 or more points twice and recorded zero interceptions. The Baltimore Ravens were a tough matchup in Week 1 with MVP Lamar Jackson at the helm of their offense, but the Chiefs faltered in Week 2 against a Bengals offense that scored 10 points the week prior. If the Chiefs defense did not score their touchdown in Week 2, they would likely rank within the bottom five amongst fantasy defenses. Kansas City will take on the Falcons this week, who just had a fourth quarter comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. If the Falcons are beginning to find their groove offensively, the Chiefs could have a tough time against this unit. Atlanta also has excellent offensive weapons, including Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Kirk Cousins. While Steve Spagnuolo is one of the best defensive coordinators in football, I would prefer to start a different defense in Week 3.

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Josh Downs Sep 20 3:40pm CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) was a full participant during Friday's practice and did not carry an injury designation for Sunday's game. The sophomore wideout was a full participant in practice all week and is set to make his 2024 debut against the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. Downs was sidelined during the first two weeks of the campaign due to a high-ankle sprain he suffered in August. Last season, Downs enjoyed a solid rookie campaign where he caught 68 passes for 771 yards and two scores. Fantasy managers should expect Downs to be one of the top three options in a crowded wide receiver room comprising Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and rookie Adonai Mitchell.

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Travis Etienne Sep 20 3:30pm CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. has two rushing touchdowns through two games, maintaining an RB2 status against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. Etienne Jr. was drafted as a borderline RB1 but hasn't quite lived up to those standards. However, this Monday night matchup on the road is a potential bounce-back game for the Clemson product, given the Bills rank second worst against RBs in fantasy through two games. The passing defense has been great, but the run defense looked vulnerable against James Conner and De'Von Achane. The Jaguars offense overall has struggled, but Etienne Jr. has shown a high floor with his rushing touchdowns and solid volume. The Jaguars could emphasize the running game even more against the Bills, especially if Tank Bigsby returns from injury. The 25-year-old RB is still a good start despite not meeting expectations to start the season in what should be a plus matchup.

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Rashee Rice Sep 20 3:30pm CT
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. Rice has been the most involved Chiefs pass catcher through the first two weeks of the season, and there is no reason to believe that will change moving forward. The second-year receiver has routinely been successful on in-breaking routes closer to the line of scrimmage, but last week, he demonstrated his ability to win down the field. Mahomes and Rice connected on a 44-yard touchdown reception when Rice was matched up one-on-one. If Rice can win consistently at multiple levels, his ceiling will be even higher, considering his safe floor in PPR formats. The 24-year-old will face off against the Atlanta defense, which has allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards per game. Their passing yards per game allowed number may be skewed, given that they have given up the sixth-most rushing yards per game. If the Falcons offense has turned a corner, the Chiefs offense may need to throw more than they have to begin the season. With the loss of Isiah Pacheco to injured reserve, Rice could see an even higher volume of targets moving forward. The Chiefs wide receiver is a rock-solid start in this matchup.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Sep 20 3:30pm CT
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) is off the injury report and set to play on Sunday as the Cowboys face the 0-2 Baltimore Ravens. Lamb did not practice on Wednesday and was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday and is now a full-go for this weekend. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable locking their first-round selection into their starting lineup on Sunday. Lamb caught five of his ten targets for 61 yards in the season opener. Last weekend, the Oklahoma product caught four passes for 90 yards with a score. Lamb should always be viewed as a high-end WR1 and is worth a look in DFS formats, as he will always be Dak Prescott's go-to option in the passing game.

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Xavier Worthy Sep 20 3:30pm CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. Worthy had two catches for 17 yards and one carry for five yards in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The rookie receiver had three touches, just as he had in Week 1, but failed to break off a big play or score a touchdown in the contest. Worthy will look to increase his role in the offense with the loss of Isiah Pacheco, who has a broken leg. The Chiefs figure to start rookie running back Carson Steele in the backfield, so it remains to be seen how much of a workload they will trust him with. There is a possibility that the Chiefs play-calling shifts back to being more pass-heavy, which would only benefit Worthy with increased volume. The Falcons defense faced two run-heavy offenses the first two weeks of the season, so the Chiefs will likely test the strength of the Atlanta secondary in this contest. An increase in volume for Worthy means more chances for him to make a game-breaking play. Worthy is still a high-upside flex play in this matchup.

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Carson Steele Sep 20 3:30pm CT
Carson Steele

Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele will take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. The rookie running back figures to get the first shot at the starting job, with the Chiefs placing Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve. Steele already saw multiple touches out of the backfield when Pacheco was healthy, so his starting should not be a big surprise. Veteran running back Samaje Perine should still play a complementary role in obvious passing-down situations, but Steele should get the bulk of first and second downs and goal-line touches. Kansas City also signed former Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, but head coach Andy Reid has stated that Hunt will not be elevated from the practice squad ahead of the team's Week 3 matchup. The Falcons have allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game so far this season, so Steele should be able to gain yards on the ground in his opportunities. It remains to be seen just how large of a workload Steele will receive, so he is a risky flex play in his first starting week.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Sep 20 3:20pm CT
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, according to Tom Pelissero. The star wideout did not play in last week's game due to a hamstring injury he suffered during practice and will now miss his second-straight game. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the 27-year-old's status next week as he will now set his sights on returning in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last week, DeVonta Smith led the wide receiver room in Brown's absence with seven catches on ten targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy managers should consider Smith a low-end WR1 this weekend due to the volume he should see. Tight end Dallas Goedert should see an uptick in targets and should be started in all formats. No.2 wideout Jahan Dotson could also see an increase in work and is worth a look in deeper formats.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Sep 20 3:20pm CT
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take on the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 3. Mahomes has passed for less than 300 yards and thrown fewer than 30 pass attempts in the team's first two games. Despite his lackluster output from a counting stats perspective, the Chiefs are undefeated to start the season. The logical expectation would be that Mahomes would continue this style of play and rely on the strengths of the run game and defense to grind out wins, but this may no longer be a viable strategy. With the Chiefs placing star running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve, the Kansas City offense may need to lean more pass-heavy to remain competitive. Mahomes will need to be on his game this week as they face the Falcons, who just had a comeback victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in a primetime matchup. The Falcons offense appeared to figure some things out on their game-winning drive and will look to build on that momentum in this matchup. The Chiefs defense has also been relatively lackluster compared to their high expectations, so this could be a high-scoring affair. Mahomes has been disappointing at the start of the season, but the injury to Pacheco could pave the way for a shift in offensive play-calling. Start Mahomes with confidence in their Week 3 contest at Atlanta.

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